Would recommend to: fans of Westerfeld’s other works (Leviathan, Uglies, etcetera) and those who enjoy a good vampire novel.

Available in the library?: Yes

Peeps is a fast-paced urban fantasy novel that proves once more that Scott Westerfeld is truly skilled in writing Young Adult fiction. This time Westerfeld makes a foray into the vampire genre; an action-packed, parasite-filled foray.

Peeps is about a young adult named Cal, who contracts a parasite that essentially turns you into a vampire (though they are known as ‘peeps’ in the book). Cal is just a ‘carrier’ however, meaning he isn’t turned into a bloodthirsty monster, but merely receives enhanced abilities. Others aren’t so lucky, such as Cal’s old girlfriends, who have all been infected and reduced to pale husks. The novel follows Cal as he hunts down his former girlfriends and unravels the secrets of this parasite he has inside him.

I personally quite liked this book, as shown by the fact that I finished all of it in a single night. It’s a suspenseful, well-written book that tells a solid story and also provides interesting information. Each second chapter contains facts about a different parasite, including the guinea worm and other fascinating creepy-crawlies. Overall, Peeps by Scott Westerfeld is a high-quality novel that grips you from the start and doesn’t let go until the very end. I’d recommend it to just about everyone. It is currently available in the library and free for all Whitefriars students to read.

For information on Scott Westerfeld and his other works, visit his website here.

It is definitely an interesting take on the vampire trope, Mrs Fitzsimons. I don’t normally venture much into the genre (though I am interested in the mythology surrounding the vampire), but a friend brought it up in book club and I just had to read it. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is also my favourite vampire novel!